Deputies return to Walton schools; funding questions remain

Published: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 05:26 PM.

School resource deputies will be in all Walton County schools on Thursday when classes begin for the 2013-14 year.

But lingering financial questions left both school and law enforcement officials unable to confirm if the SRDs would remain at all facilities.

“We believe this is a priority issue,” said Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson. “We’re trying to do the best we can with it.”

Deputies were placed in all six Walton County elementary schools in December 2012 following the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Prior to that, the deputies were only at the district’s nine secondary schools.

Superintendent Carlene Anderson said she will ask the Walton County School Board Tuesday to designate all the money coming to it through the Safe School fund toward the SRDs.

Adkinson said he plans to ask the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to help him cover the rest of the costs.

“I know my board will support me,” Anderson said. “I’m just hoping the commissioners will support the Sheriff’s Office.”

Anderson said the district didn’t have any additional funding to designate toward the program as neighboring Okaloosa County did last month to keep deputies in all its schools.

Under the current proposal, the district will cover $123,000 worth of the costs associated with the SRDs, or about 35 percent. Adkinson will be asking the commissioners to help with the other $232,996.

Adkinson, who was an advocate of the SRDs in schools prior to Sandy Hook, said the SRDs have committed to doing what they can to keep the current program financially viable, including offering to forgo overtime to supervise afterschool events such as dances.

“I hope that shows the board that we will be flexible,” Adkinson said. “We’re just trying to find ways to make it affordable.”

The presentation before the Board of County Commissioners is planned for Sept. 9.

School resource deputies will be in all Walton County schools on Thursday when classes begin for the 2013-14 year.

But lingering financial questions left both school and law enforcement officials unable to confirm if the SRDs would remain at all facilities.

“We believe this is a priority issue,” said Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson. “We’re trying to do the best we can with it.”

Deputies were placed in all six Walton County elementary schools in December 2012 following the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Prior to that, the deputies were only at the district’s nine secondary schools.

Superintendent Carlene Anderson said she will ask the Walton County School Board Tuesday to designate all the money coming to it through the Safe School fund toward the SRDs.

Adkinson said he plans to ask the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to help him cover the rest of the costs.

“I know my board will support me,” Anderson said. “I’m just hoping the commissioners will support the Sheriff’s Office.”

Anderson said the district didn’t have any additional funding to designate toward the program as neighboring Okaloosa County did last month to keep deputies in all its schools.

Under the current proposal, the district will cover $123,000 worth of the costs associated with the SRDs, or about 35 percent. Adkinson will be asking the commissioners to help with the other $232,996.

Adkinson, who was an advocate of the SRDs in schools prior to Sandy Hook, said the SRDs have committed to doing what they can to keep the current program financially viable, including offering to forgo overtime to supervise afterschool events such as dances.

“I hope that shows the board that we will be flexible,” Adkinson said. “We’re just trying to find ways to make it affordable.”

The presentation before the Board of County Commissioners is planned for Sept. 9.